SFC's McBride eyes college football career

SOLANA BEACH -- As a 150-pound, 15-year-old, Chase McBride
relied on his instincts to become a standout linebacker.

Today, the 185-pound, high school senior excels in both football
and basketball for Santa Fe Christian High largely because of those
instincts. Combined with his size and speed, they make him an NCAA
Division I recruit.

The 6-foot-2 McBride is Santa Fe Christian's all-purpose
athlete. Put him anywhere on the court or field and before long,
he's likely to excel.

He learned a new position during the football season and led the
Eagles to the CIF Division IV title last week. This week, he plans
to rejoin the school's basketball team, which he helped to the CIF
Division V crown last winter.

"He obviously was one of two or three kids that were the
heartbeat of our team," Santa Fe Christian offensive coordinator
Nick Ruscetta said of McBride. "He's just a phenomenal athlete on
both sides of the ball. … He's a Division I type player that
happened to be at Santa Fe Christian."

McBride became the Eagles' best offensive weapon from his
running back spot this fall. And his move from linebacker to
safety, the position he'll play in college, gave him a season's
worth of highlight films to show recruiters.

He intercepted six passes, including one he returned for a
touchdown, as the team's lone safety. His ability to get to the
ball quickly, as much as his speed (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard
dash) made him a standout. Offensively, McBride scored 22
touchdowns (13 rushing, nine receiving).

And his status as a star player for a small private school that
encountered scant competition didn't scare the colleges. Santa Fe
Christian, coached by former NFL Most Valuable Player Brian Sipe,
enjoyed a high-profile season in its undefeated run to the CIF
title.

"It's tough being at a small school," McBride said. "It helped
this year with coach Sipe and our team doing so well. We got a lot
of press. And the colleges kept showing interest in me."

Colorado State, California and several Ivy League schools have
expressed interest in McBride, who holds a 3.75 grade-point
average. None has offered a scholarship yet.

McBride was a seldom-utilized receiver as a junior in football,
but Sipe and Ruscetta moved him to running back in their new wing-T
offense to increase his opportunities with the ball.

McBride also changed physically. Each week during the offseason,
he endured four days of intense weight lifting and two days of
defensive back footwork training with the help of former Eagles
assistant coach Andre Johnson. Ten pounds of muscle appeared.

In June, McBride attended five different football camps,
including the Nike Training Combine in San Diego, which featured
many of the best high school players in Southern California.

The work will certainly continue. McBride feels he can add 20
pounds to his frame by the time he's a regular contributor in
college. But basketball won't be a casualty of that goal.

McBride averaged 11 points per game from his shooting guard
position last season for a team that was loaded with seniors. He
and sophomore Nick Corso are the team's lone returning
regulars.

"I love basketball, even though it's not my focus," McBride
said. "I like playing for Coach (Randy) Wright a lot. I'd hate to,
after playing (varsity) basketball for two years, not play my
senior year, look back and regret it."